Kearney Hub Coverage: Southeast Asia KHS teacher’s next adventure

Link to article: Southeast Asia KHS teacher’s next adventure - Kearney Hub: Local

Nice article by Kearney Hub Education Reporter, Josh Moody, about my upcoming participation in Cultural Vista's American Youth Leadership Program to Singapore and Malaysia!

Good Morning Nebraska! AYLP Singapore and Malaysia Interview

This morning I had the opportunity to visit with Marylyn Barnett on Good Morning Nebraska, a morning news program on ABC-affiliates' KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD Grand Island, Kearney Hastings, which serve central Nebraska, about my participation in Cultural Vistas' American Youth Leadership Program to Singapore and Malaysia.

KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings

Preparations for Singapore and Malaysia!

Schools out and it has been quite a long time since my last blog entry.  Time to prepare for summer adventures and experiences that I'll incorporate into my AP World History and AP Human Geography courses next school year.

Earlier this spring, I found out that I had been selected as a teacher-participant for Cultural Vistas' American Youth Leadership Program to Singapore and Malaysia.  For a few weeks in July, I will travel to Singapore and Malaysia with Cultural Vistas' staff, another teacher-participant from Orlando, Florida and 22 high school students from across the country.  I was absolutely ecstatic when I received the good news.  I've never been to Southeast Asia, the skylines of both Singapore and Kaula Lumpur fascinate me, and the region has such a dynamic history and importance as the connection point between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.  In addition, the program areas of focus include sustainable development, cultural immersion, and urban development, which align perfectly with major areas of both personal and professional interest for me.

Our travels with the American Youth Leadership Program will take us to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

In preparation for our travels to Singapore and Malaysia, I've been doing the typical guidebook reading, map study, survival phrase learning, and general background gathering that I like to do anytime I get ready to travel.  However, Cultural Vistas' staff have also designed a number of small projects that are assisting us in thinking about the major issues facing Singapore and Malaysia, as well as various cultural dynamics that we will no doubt experience.

One of the projects I completed most recently was to create a short video explaining the "Nine Dimensions of Culture" as outlined in The Invisible Elephant: Exploring Cultural Awareness by Tom Verghese.  I wanted to present a framework for understanding cultural perspectives that I use in my own classroom, and that I hope can be useful in our role as cultural explorers while visiting Singapore and Malaysia.  I have to apologize for the length (19:16), but it takes some time to explain the cultural framework.  If you'd like to take a look, here's the video:

AYLP-Cultural Mirror from Kevin Witte on Vimeo.

Looking forward to posting travel and other summer adventure updates very soon!

Not Your Ordinary High School Assembly...

Last Tuesday, November 26, Kearney High School had an all-school assembly scheduled in which Governor Dave Heineman was to speak on the value of a high school education and the pursuit of post-secondary education or training.  It was also the last day before Thanksgiving Break, so there was a palpable excitement in the air that had mostly to do with the five days off that would commence at 3:22pm.

However this 9:00am assembly turned out to be something quite different from what most students and staff expected.  Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Educator Awards, was introduced and began to discuss the tremendous impact educators have on society and the importance of recognizing excellence in education.  She explained that the Milken Family Foundation created the Milken Educator Awards as the "Oscars" of teaching to highlight achievement in education and future potential in the field.  The award also carries with it an unrestricted $25,000 cash award that goes directly to the teacher.

A few short minutes later, Governor Dave Heineman announced my name as the 2013 Milken Educator Award Winner for the state of Nebraska.  It was an absolutely incredible feeling, but it is probably best to just show the video of the announcement (Courtesy of Milken Family Foundation):

It is very difficult to put into words what it felt like to be recognized in such an overwhelming fashion.  To have local and state officials and dignitaries in attendance, to meet former Milken Educator Award Winners, but most of all to be recognized in front of students and staff that you work with everyday was an honor that I will never forget.

After the award was presented, I had the opportunity to make a few remarks, and I hope I made it very clear that I have been fortunate to teach at school and in a community that makes it possible for me to do exactly what I want to do each and everyday.  I get to make every effort to bring the world to the students of Kearney High School.  I get to work with amazing students and colleagues.  I have been blessed with incredible parents whose careers in education provided a blueprint for the path I have pursued.  I have the most supportive and giving wife, who not only tolerates, but encourages my voyages of international discovery, very long winter basketball seasons, and all the other school activities and projects I pursue over the course of a typical school year.  I have a young son who inspires me to do everything I can to leave the world a better place for him and his generation.  I also have been blessed with amazing teachers, mentors, administrators, and colleagues along the way that guided me towards opportunities to grow and make an impact.

Here's another edited film put together by the Milken Family Foundation that highlights other aspects of this truly incredible day (Courtesy of Milken Family Foundation):

In addition to the coverage provided by the media crew of the Milken Family Foundation, there was also some local media coverage.  Here's an television story from KHGI NTV News (a local ABC affiliate):

KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings

Other News Coverage:

Kearney teacher receives national educator award, $25,000

World-Herald  |  Nov 26 , 2013  |  Omaha, NE

Surprise of a Lifetime: KHS's Witte wins major teaching award

Kearney Hub  |  Nov 27 , 2013  |  Kearney, NE

Kearney H.S. teacher received national educator award

KRVN-FM  |  Nov 27 , 2013  |  Kearney, NE

Kearney High School teacher gets Milken award

Lincoln Journal Star  |  Nov 27 , 2013  |  Lincoln, NE

Again, there really is no way to effectively communicate the incredible way in which the Milken Family Foundation brings recognition and sheds light on the importance of education and the value of teachers.  It was a day that I will never forget, and a day that will always serve as a reminder of how thankful I am that I have been able to match my passion for the pursuit of international understanding with the opportunity to instill global citizenship in future generations.

BearcaTV Story on My Travels

Check out the incredible story on my travels over the years that was aired on the October 17, 2013 episode of BearcaTV!  Great work KHS Media Productions!

10/11 News Central Nebraska Story on NEH Trip to Istanbul

Here's a story that aired on the evening of July 16, 2013 regarding my National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute in Istanbul.

Ramadan Reflections

Picture taken at sunset on the first night of Ramadan.

Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, serves as month of fasting, prayer, and sacrifice for Muslims around the world.  As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, it lies at the heart of Muslim tradition.  The dates of this month change from year to year on the Gregorian calendar due to the Islamic calendar's foundation in lunar phases which means that Ramadan moves roughly eleven days earlier each year.  This year in Istanbul, Ramadan started at sunset on Monday, July 8.

Since finding out that I would be traveling to Istanbul, I have been absolutely thrilled with the prospect of being in Istanbul for the first few days of Ramadan.  Ramadan is something that is discussed in the classes I teach and students always have lots of questions about how Ramadan works.  In the past, I have taught my students the fundamentals, as I best understood them.  Basically, I focused on the fact that many Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan.  Many try to eat and drink something before sunrise and the beginning of morning prayers, as well as break the fast with large family or community meals after sunset.  Ramadan is a month of prayer, fasting, and avoiding other vices and sinful practices.  More than anything else, it is an opportunity to sacrifice, practice self-control, develop greater awareness of the challenges of the poor and hungry, and deepen one's personal relationship with God.

Students are always fascinated with the challenges of such a lengthy period of daily fasting.  In particular, they realized that depending on the calendar, Ramadan can fall during the long daylight hours of the summertime (like this year) or require significant shorter days of fasting in the winter.  We do discuss that fasting is something that can be found in many world religions and also draw the parallel between Ramadan and the fasting/sacrifices of the Lenten season in the Christian tradition.

However, the reason that I wanted to write this blog entry is due to the fact that I've learned so much about the culture and customs that surround the month of Ramadan here in the Istanbul area.  Here are some observations:

• Ramadan creates an incredible sense of community.  This becomes clear when one witnesses the iftar or fast-breaking meal.  As sunset nears, people begin to gather in parks, squares and other communal spaces throughout the city to share in a meal together.  Many bring a picnic dinner and have everything set out and ready for when the local mosque or TV announces that the fast has ended for the day.  For many, the first thing they do is open a bottle of water and drink for the first time in 15-16 hours.  It has been profoundly moving to watch hundreds or even thousands of families begin eating and drinking at exactly the same time.  In addition to families, I've seen construction coworkers, waiters, and others working together prepare and break the fast together before they get back to their duties.   
  
  
  
  

  

  Thousands breaking the fast together in the Hippodrome.

  
  
• Ramadan entails a tremendous degree of sacrifice, but also incorporates a feeling of celebration each evening.  It is very cyclical in that sense.  This appears to be one area wherein the Christian season of Lent and Islamic season of Ramadan differ.  Lent is a 40-day linear season of sacrifice and prayer that leads to Easter, while the cycle of fasting/breaking fast occurs each and everyday during Ramadan.  That distinction being drawn, it is important to note that Ramadan and Lent share much in common with regards to being seasons of increased prayer, attention to proper behavior, and increased attention given to charitable works and contribution.

• While I can't comment on other cities throughout the Islamic world, the mosques, public spaces, and businesses of Istanbul very much embrace Ramadan with formal celebration.  I've witnessed the lights hung on the minarets of mosques around the city, as well as the lights spelling holiday greetings that span the space between minarets.  I've seen public spaces in the hippodrome and at Taksim Square where massive iftar feasts have been prepared to feed thousands.  Nearly every green space in the city is prepared for the picnics of families.  There is even a craft market that opened in the Hippodrome during Ramadan full of artisan crafts, baklava, Turkish Delight, ice cream, and other snacks.  On Istiklal Street, a trolley transports "Ramadan Rock Bands" up and down the street to entertain people.  Near my hotel, a small amphitheater presents concerts or other entertainment programs each night.  Finally, restaurants throughout the city may be a bit slower throughout the day as people are fasting, but many have special iftar fixed menus that include soup, bread, dates, olives, salad, rice, meat dish, desert, and tea for a set price.  Even fast food restaurants like McDonald's make special accommodations during Ramadan to open at 2:00am or 3:00am in the morning so that people can eat before the sun rises.

Entrance to the Craft Bazaar on the Hippodrome.

Soup, salad, and appetizer portion of a fixed menu iftar meal at a cafe on Istiklal Street.

Part of the iftar fixed menu meal I had included Kofte (lamb and beef meatballs).

McDonald's make accommodations throughout the city to open early enough for people to eat before the fast begins.

In witnessing the first few days of Ramadan here in Istanbul, I have to say that I have a whole new appreciation for the depth of sacrifice, but also the incredible sense of togetherness and celebration brought about by the season.